Mountain sentinels in a changing world: Review and conservation implications of weather and climate effects on mountain goats (Oreamnos americanus)
Climate change is occurring at an accelerated rate in high-elevation alpine and mountain ecosystems. Cold-adapted, mountain species are at risk due to forecasted change and knowledge is needed to respond to current and future conservation challenges. Mountain goats (Oreamnos americanus) are an iconi...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Global Ecology and Conservation |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2351989424005687 |
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| author | Kevin S. White Becky Cadsand Steeve D. Côté Tabitha Graves Sandra Hamel Richard B. Harris Forest P. Hayes Eran Hood Kevin Hurley Tyler Jessen Bill Jex Erich Peitzsch Wesley Sarmento Helen Schwantje Joel Berger |
| author_facet | Kevin S. White Becky Cadsand Steeve D. Côté Tabitha Graves Sandra Hamel Richard B. Harris Forest P. Hayes Eran Hood Kevin Hurley Tyler Jessen Bill Jex Erich Peitzsch Wesley Sarmento Helen Schwantje Joel Berger |
| author_sort | Kevin S. White |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Climate change is occurring at an accelerated rate in high-elevation alpine and mountain ecosystems. Cold-adapted, mountain species are at risk due to forecasted change and knowledge is needed to respond to current and future conservation challenges. Mountain goats (Oreamnos americanus) are an iconic species of North American mountain cultures and landscapes, and due to specialized adaptations for life in cold, mountainous environments they are particularly sensitive to changes in weather and climate. As sentinels of change in alpine ecosystems, the study of mountain goats offers insight into the ecological effects and conservation challenges associated with climate change in these sensitive and biodiverse environments. Here, we synthesize existing knowledge about how climate change is expected to influence environmental conditions experienced by mountain goats and associated mechanistic changes to behavior, nutritional ecology, demography, health, and interspecific interactions. In many instances, climate change effects are likely to be negative and additive to existing threats (such as human disturbance, hunting, disease, predation) though benefits are expected in some cases. Changes in climate and mountain environments will necessitate re-examination and modification of population monitoring, management, and conservation strategies. Specifically, spatiotemporal (and other) aspects of monitoring and management may need to be adjusted to accommodate emerging and novel conservation challenges. Yet, key data and knowledge gaps remain and should be addressed to advance conservation and decision-making capabilities. For mountain goats and similarly climate-sensitive alpine herbivores, effective conservation will ultimately benefit from collaborations among diverse networks guided by well-planned, strategic visions focused on common ground – namely the resiliency and persistence of culturally and ecologically significant mountain species and the alpine environment they inhabit. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-8a9309d412244a848cd2f2b567045606 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2351-9894 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Global Ecology and Conservation |
| spelling | doaj-art-8a9309d412244a848cd2f2b5670456062025-01-23T05:26:54ZengElsevierGlobal Ecology and Conservation2351-98942025-01-0157e03364Mountain sentinels in a changing world: Review and conservation implications of weather and climate effects on mountain goats (Oreamnos americanus)Kevin S. White0Becky Cadsand1Steeve D. Côté2Tabitha Graves3Sandra Hamel4Richard B. Harris5Forest P. Hayes6Eran Hood7Kevin Hurley8Tyler Jessen9Bill Jex10Erich Peitzsch11Wesley Sarmento12Helen Schwantje13Joel Berger14Program on the Environment, Department of Natural Sciences, University of Alaska Southeast, Juneau, AK 99801, USA; Department of Geography, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, V8W 2Y2 Canada; Corresponding author at: Program on the Environment, Department of Natural Sciences, University of Alaska Southeast, Juneau, AK 99801, USA.British Columbia Ministry of Forests, Williams Lake, BC, V2G 4T1 CanadaDépartement de Biologie, Université Laval, Québec, PQ, G1V 0A6 Canada; Centre d’études Nordiques, Université Laval, Québec, PQ, G1V 0A6 CanadaUS Geological Survey, Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center, West Glacier, MT 59936, USADépartement de Biologie, Université Laval, Québec, PQ, G1V 0A6 CanadaWashington Department of Fish and Wildlife (ret.), Olympia, WA 98501, USA; 54502 Kerns Road, Charlo, MT 59824, USADepartment of Fish, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USAProgram on the Environment, Department of Natural Sciences, University of Alaska Southeast, Juneau, AK 99801, USAWild Sheep Foundation, Bozeman, MT 59718, USADepartment of Geography, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, V8W 2Y2 Canada; Raincoast Conservation Foundation, Sidney, BC, V8L 3Y3 CanadaBritish Columbia Ministry of Water, Land, and Resource Stewardship, Smithers, BC, V0J 2N0 CanadaUS Geological Survey, Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center, West Glacier, MT 59936, USAMontana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, Conrad, MT 59425, USABritish Columbia Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship (emeritus), Nanaimo, BC, CanadaDepartment of Fish, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA; Wildlife Conservation Society–Global Program, Bronx, NY 10460, USAClimate change is occurring at an accelerated rate in high-elevation alpine and mountain ecosystems. Cold-adapted, mountain species are at risk due to forecasted change and knowledge is needed to respond to current and future conservation challenges. Mountain goats (Oreamnos americanus) are an iconic species of North American mountain cultures and landscapes, and due to specialized adaptations for life in cold, mountainous environments they are particularly sensitive to changes in weather and climate. As sentinels of change in alpine ecosystems, the study of mountain goats offers insight into the ecological effects and conservation challenges associated with climate change in these sensitive and biodiverse environments. Here, we synthesize existing knowledge about how climate change is expected to influence environmental conditions experienced by mountain goats and associated mechanistic changes to behavior, nutritional ecology, demography, health, and interspecific interactions. In many instances, climate change effects are likely to be negative and additive to existing threats (such as human disturbance, hunting, disease, predation) though benefits are expected in some cases. Changes in climate and mountain environments will necessitate re-examination and modification of population monitoring, management, and conservation strategies. Specifically, spatiotemporal (and other) aspects of monitoring and management may need to be adjusted to accommodate emerging and novel conservation challenges. Yet, key data and knowledge gaps remain and should be addressed to advance conservation and decision-making capabilities. For mountain goats and similarly climate-sensitive alpine herbivores, effective conservation will ultimately benefit from collaborations among diverse networks guided by well-planned, strategic visions focused on common ground – namely the resiliency and persistence of culturally and ecologically significant mountain species and the alpine environment they inhabit.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2351989424005687AlpineClimate changeConservationMountain goatOreamnos americanusSentinel species |
| spellingShingle | Kevin S. White Becky Cadsand Steeve D. Côté Tabitha Graves Sandra Hamel Richard B. Harris Forest P. Hayes Eran Hood Kevin Hurley Tyler Jessen Bill Jex Erich Peitzsch Wesley Sarmento Helen Schwantje Joel Berger Mountain sentinels in a changing world: Review and conservation implications of weather and climate effects on mountain goats (Oreamnos americanus) Global Ecology and Conservation Alpine Climate change Conservation Mountain goat Oreamnos americanus Sentinel species |
| title | Mountain sentinels in a changing world: Review and conservation implications of weather and climate effects on mountain goats (Oreamnos americanus) |
| title_full | Mountain sentinels in a changing world: Review and conservation implications of weather and climate effects on mountain goats (Oreamnos americanus) |
| title_fullStr | Mountain sentinels in a changing world: Review and conservation implications of weather and climate effects on mountain goats (Oreamnos americanus) |
| title_full_unstemmed | Mountain sentinels in a changing world: Review and conservation implications of weather and climate effects on mountain goats (Oreamnos americanus) |
| title_short | Mountain sentinels in a changing world: Review and conservation implications of weather and climate effects on mountain goats (Oreamnos americanus) |
| title_sort | mountain sentinels in a changing world review and conservation implications of weather and climate effects on mountain goats oreamnos americanus |
| topic | Alpine Climate change Conservation Mountain goat Oreamnos americanus Sentinel species |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2351989424005687 |
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